Due to the amount of legal information that has become available in recent years, internet legal research skills have become an indispensable tool for all who require legal information.  Whether you depend on free access material or you have access to commercial publisher’s systems ConnectLaw's specialised training will enable you to keep yourself up-to-date. The skills provided will be of endless assistance to all your future research tasks.

Overview
This module gives you the skills and knowledge to conduct legal research online. Your trainer uses computers to present the module in a ‘hands-on’ way. We cater for advanced researchers and beginners. You will explore the types of information available online. We will explain advanced Boolean techniques so that you can search more confidently. We will show you techniques for case research, including where to find cases online and how to find commentaries.

Outline of the training
The training provided will give participants the confidence to use any online legal information service. Because websites change regularly, we teach you how to be a self-learner in the fast changing world of Internet resources.

Computerises research methodologies (Methodology)

• Structured methods of researching legal material on the Internet.
• Compare and contrast methodologies and how these methodologies differ from traditional research methodologies.
• Methodologies include the updating legislations, finding subsequent references of case law, issue and problem analysis, fact collection and legal reasoning, researching commentary on a specific topic, and comparative foreign law.

Online legal content (Content)

• Knowledge of where to gain legal information on the Internet.
• Content falls into 4 categories: legislation, case law, secondary material and foreign law.
• Differences between free access content and subscription content and the strengths and weaknesses of both.
• Differences between authoritive and non-authoritive information on the Internet.
• Ability to evaluate content on a legal web site.
  

 
Computerised research techniques (Technique)

• An understanding of computer systems and the Internet search techniques required to extract relevant information.
• Techniques include knowledge of operators, different database types and catologs.
• General Internet knowledge including indexing, files types, printing and site construction (use of frames and cookies).
• Search engine design and operation including searchable material (fields, metadata or full text).